Shaft coupling



May 3, 193.2.

SHAFT c oUPLING Fiied oct. 4, 195o .2 sheets-sheet 1 /NVENTOR -,s

MJ. Spen ler BY TTRVEY w. J. PENGLER I l 1,856,975 v May l3, 1932. w. J; SPENGLER SHAFT COUPLING Y Filed oet. 4; -1950 2 Sheets-sheet4 2 /N VENT'OR Spen ler @Mwa g ff/nw A TTORNE y Patented May a, 1932Y I UNITED .STATES PATENT OFFICE WALTER. J. srncmm, orl amm. NEW Yonnkassmnon mammals-nemo conm, me, or smNEY, mawv Yonx, consommer or New Yoan suur courma- Appumion mea come: 4,

This invention relates to shaft couplings and more particularly to a novel form of impulse coupling for magneto generators.

Ignition magnetos,- which are driven from an engine shaft and are designed to operate satisfactorily at the normal running speeds of the engine, can in general not be relied on to produce satisfactor ignition voltages at slow engine speeds suc las during cranking of the engine in starting. In order to obviate this diiculty without resorting to an auxiliary ignition device vfor starting pur' poses, so calledimpulse couplings have been designed for drivin the magneto, which op' erate as solid coup 'ngs at normal running speeds, but which at slow speeds are adapted to drive the magneto intermittently, impartg ing rapid rotational impulses thereto during the ignition periods of said engine.

One object of the present invention is .to provide `a novel coupling of+this type which is smaller, lighter, and generally more emcient than. devices of this'characte'r heretofore known.i

Another object is the Iprovision of such a coupling which is entire y reliable and automatic in its action over long periodsoi use.

A Jfurther object is to provide sucha de vice which is composed of few parts, all of which are of comparatively simple design and which may 'be' economically. constructed and readily assembled.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in this art from the. following description,h taken in connection with the accompanying drawin in which:

Fig. 1 is an end view of .the evice;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal mid-sectional view;

Fig. 3 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 2 showing the coupling'elements in a diiierent coopera-` tive relationship;

Fig/t is a transverse section taken sub-` stantially on the line 4-,4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the coupling, partly broken away, with the parts in the positions illustrated 1n Fi 3 and 4; and Fig. v6 is an expande 'perspectiye view of the couplin v artly in longitudinal section. In the em Idiment of the inyentlon herein 5 illustrated, a driven 'shaft 10 which may be the rearwar ends or noses ofsaid paw 1930. semina. 486,344.

the shaft -of a magneto generator, journaled d in any suitable way in the end of the magneto frame 11, is adapted to b e rotated from a suitable rotating partofan engine,'not.sl1own.

For this purpose a driven coupling member 12. is keyed in any suitable way upon the shaft 10 and retained thereon as by means 0f 1 a castellatedl n'ut 13 threaded on tlie end of vlsaid shaft.

The driven coupling member 12 is formed as a lrqllow shell as best illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawing and a driving coupling member 14 is nested therein and adapted to have a running lit within the peripheral portion15 and upon the hub vportion 16 of said driven member.

- Thehdriving and driven members 14 and 12 are connected for normal rotation in unison byyielding coupling means herein illus trated as a pair of volute springs 17 and 18' having inturned ends 19 and 20 respectively such as the longitudinally .extending lug 25 `on the. driven member which engages in the arcuate' cut-out portion 26 of said driving member. The coupling springs 17 and 18 are vassembled under suiiicient tension to normal-iy ly retain the lug 25 .against the shoulder 2`7 which denesl that end of the cut-out portion 26 of the driving member which is advanced in the direction of rotation of the parts. Ob' struction of the rotation of the driven mem ber 12 while the driving member is rotating will cause a winding up of the springs 17 and 18 which is limitedvbyv the engagement of the lug 25 b the shoulder 28 which defines Driven coupling member 12 is provided exteriorly thereof with one or more pairs-'of radially extending ears 29, and a corresponding number ci pawls or latch members 30 are adapted to bev pivoted therebetween as by means of transverse ins 31. The free ls are enlarged and formed with iiat 'sides as indicated at 32 to slide freely between and be guided byrthe end `of the cut-out portion'`126.

I6 adapted to engagein a slot '21 ofthe driving interior surfaces of said ears 29. A .detent member, here shown in the form of a ring 33 fixedly mounted as by means of screws 34 on the magneto frame 11, is provided with a notch 35 adapted to engage the nose 32 of either of said pawls 30 when it is moved inwardly by the force of gravity, and thus temporarily lock the driven membervfrom rotation. The driven member `is provided with openings 36 formed to allow said nose 32 of the pawl to extend within said driven member as indicated in Fig. 2 when said pawl is in engagement with the notch 35 of said detent member 33.

. wardly and engage the notch -35 of the detent member. When the driving member has advanced through a predetermined angle with respect to the driven member, which is substantially less than the angular extent of the cut-out portion 26, ,the cam members'37- will be rotated'suiliciently to engage and raise the pawl 30 from lits engagement with ,the detent 33 and thus permit the springs 17,

18 to unwind and rotate the driven member rapidly to its normal position relative to the driving member, as defined by the engagement of lug 25 with shoulder 27.

The frame 11 is preferably extended in the form of a cylindrical housing38 adapted to enclose the coupling members, and a universal coupling member here shown in/the form of-an Oldham coupling member 39` is arranged to have a looserunning fit within said housing. 1 Suitable packing 40 may be @introduced lin the outer end of the housing 38 in order to form a substantially lubricant and dust tight connection between the `-coupling members 39 and said housing. v

The driving coupling member 14 is provided withlongitudinally extending radial tongues 41 adapted to engage with the grooves 42 incoupling member 39 in the `usual manner, and it will be understood that the coupling member 39 will be suitably v drivenfrom a rotating part of the engine, andrin. a definitely timed relation thereto.

, .The pawls 30 are preferably provided with yprojections 43 adapted to engage the periphery of the driven member 12 to prevent said pawls from being thrown outwardly into engagement withfthehousing 38 under the ac'- tion of centrifugal force.

It has been found desirable in vsome, 1nstances to provide means for yieldingly urging the pawls '30 inwardly in order toAv overcome friction of the pawls in their slots yand to provide a more deiinitecontrol of the pawls with relation to the speed of the cou.

pling. When this yielding means is arranged to be adjustable, it further provides a simple and 'effective method of regulating the speed -at which the coupling member becomes a solid drive, and enables a standard coupling unit to be adapted to various types of installation having ldifferent cranking speeds.

A preferred embodiment of such a means is illustrated in the form of flat compensating springs 44 having one end 45 (Fig. 6) rigidly secured in the driven coupling member 12, and the` other end 46 bearing upon' the pawls 30 at a point slightly outward from the pivots 31 of said pawls. The mounting for the springs 44, in coupling member l2, may, as here illustrated, take the form of grooves 47 in the inner edges of ears 29, adapted to receive the ends 45 of said springs, the springs being retained therein by peening over the tops of the ears 29 as indicated at 48 (Fig. 4).

It will be understood that the pressure of the springs 44 on the pawls 30 may be readily adjusted to secure the desired operating characteristics of the coupling.

Y The coupling as herein illustrated is designed for rotationlin the direction of the ar-' rows in Figs. 1, 4, 5, and 6. In case it is desired to rotate a magneto of the4 oppositey hand, it is merely necessary to assemble the springs 17, 18 reversely, with the lug 25 of the driven member against the shoulder 27 of the cut-out portion 26 in the driving mcmber, and to use a detent member 33 with a notch facing in the reverse direction. If desired, the detent member may be countersunk on both sides so that it may also be reversible, in which case the entire device may be assembled for either right or left hand drive as desired.

In operation, when the coupling member 39 is rotated slowly as during the cranking of the engine, driving member 14, being keyed thereto as indicated at 41, 42, 'is positively rotated therewith. The driven member 12 is rotated with the driving member 14 by the springs 17 18 until the nose of one of the pawls 30 falls into the notch 35 of the detent member 33 as indicated in Fig. 2. The driven member is thus prevented from rotation and the driving member is caused to advance, winding up said springs until a cam member 37 engages said pawl 30 and lifts it from its locking position as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5. The springs thereupon rapidly unwind .,and impart a relatively high rotary "speed tothe driven member 12 and magneto shaft 10'until they are again brought into their normal timed relation with the driving member 14.

It will be 'understood that the coupling is so timed with relation to the engine that thisl rapid rotation of the magneto shaft takes place at the instant when an explosive charge in said engine is to be ignited, and the current generated thereby is used for that purpose.

As soon as the engine starts, the steady rotation of the coupling is suiciently rapid to generate adequate ignition voltages. pawls 3`0 are then maintained in their outer positions by centrifugal force so that the coupling functions as a solid or rigid coupling.

Referring more in detail to the action of the pawls 30, it will be noted that said pawls, by virtue of their design as weighted levers, and irrespective of the action of springs 44, will, when the coupling is rotated slowly, enter the notch 35 in detent member 33 and remainthere until released by the cam 37 at the time of impulse operation. As fthe coupling increases in speed, centrifugal force counteracts the force of gravity 'upon the pawls and prevents them from falling into the notch 35. When the speed of the coupling diminishes, the pawls seek to fall by gravity into the notch 35, but-if the springs 44 are omitted a certain amount of friction caused by dust, rust, etc., forming on each side of the pawl, may prevent the pawl from fully seating itself. A film of oil or` dirt beneath the bottom surface` of the pawl would also cause a sticking action and would further retard its motion. The compensating springs 44, bearing upon the top surfaces of the pawls, are designed to overcome this friction and insure the engagement of the pawls at the proper time. Thisquick seating action is quite desirable in that it prevents the pawls from jumping over the notch 35. A

The compensating springs also provide a simple and effective means for regulating the throwing out speed of the pawls. Thisfeature permits theuse of a standard coupling for all types of conventional engine installations. Thus for a four cylinder engine installation in which the magneto is driven at enginespeed, assuming a cranking speed of` the engine, of about 100 R. P. M., the desired throw-out speed would be approximately'y 120 R. P. M., while forv a vsix cylinder engine in which the magneto is driven at one-and-ahalf times engine speed, the throw-out speed would be approximately 180 R. P. M. It is necessary therefore with the usual impulse coupling tofchange the design for each particular type of installation, whereas the compensating spring arrangement permits using a standard coupling for all types, the ,only change necessary being in the amount of spring pressure applied to the pawls.

It will be seen that there isl here provided an impulse coupling which is small and light, due to the hollow form and Iested relation of the parts, but which is so designed as to be strong and reliable in operation while comparatively simple and economical to construct. l

Although but one form of this invention has been shown and described in detail it will be understood that other embodiments are possible. and certain modifications and The rearrangements of.l the parts will suggest themselves to those skilled in this art.

Reference to the claims appended hereto will therefore be had for a definition of the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is 1. In a device of the class described, a

hollow drivenJmember, a driving member journaled therein, yielding driving means connecting said members, means for positively limiting relative angular movement between said members, a fixed det-ent member, a Weighted pawl pivoted on said driven member to swing radially, and adapted when A moved inwardly to engage said detent, said driven member having an opening through which the nose of said pawl projects when the pawl is moved inwardly, said driving member having a 'cam adapted to engage Iand move the nose of said pa-wl outwardly ber, a vweighted pawl pivoted to swing ra-v dially on the exterior of said driven member and adapted when moved inwardly to engage said detent, said driven member having an opening through which the nose of said pawl projects when thepawl is moved inwardly, said driving member having a vcam adapted to engage and move the nosc of said pawl outwardly to release the same from said detent after a predetermined angular movement of the driving member 1n advance of said driven member, a stationary housing, surrounding said coupling members, and a universal coupling member arranged to' rotate the driving member and to cooperate with the housing to form a lubricant-tight casing for the coupling.

3. In a device of the class described, a hollow driven member, a driving member journaled'therein, means for positively limiting relative angular movement between said members in both directions, yielding driving means connecting said members and normally maintaining the driven member at a maximum angular advance with respect to the driving member, said driven member having a pair of radially extending ears, a pawl pivotedto swing between said ears and having a weighted extremity slidably guided thereby, a stationary housing surrounding said coupling members, a detent ixed to said hous- K ing and adapted to engage said pawl when the latter moves inwardly, said driving member being formed with a cam projection, said driven member having a radial opening through which the pawl is adapted to project and cooperate with said cam whereby said cam operates to raise the pawl out of said detent after a predetermined angular advance of the driving member with respect to the driven member. y

4. In a device of the class described, a stationary housing, a driven shaft journaled therein, a universal coupling member adapted to form a closure for said housing, driving and driven coupling members in nested relation within said housing and keyed Yrespectively to said universal member and said driven shaft, means connecting said driving and driven members for normal rotation in uni- -son, but adapted to yield when rotation of the driven'member is prevented, a. detent fixdriven member to engage the detent and ari rest said rotation, `but arranged to clear said detent whenrotated rapidly, means on the driving member to lift said pawl from said detent after a predetermined angular advance of the` driving member, and means on said pawl cooperating with said driven member to prevent said pawl from being. thrown 'against said housing.

5. An impulse coupling for magneto generators including a cylindrical housing rigid with the frame of the generator and adapted to' surround the generator shaft coaxially therewith, a hollow driven coupling member fixed on said generator shaft within said housing, a driving coupling member journaled within said driven member, volute springs yieldingly connecting said coup-ling members, said springs being wound under initial tension greater than the normal driving load, said coupling members having engaging shoulders limiting the unwinding of the springs, a pawl pivoted on the driven coupling member to swing radially in response to gravity or to centrifugal force, a detent member ixed to said housing, and having a notch adapted to engage and hold the extremity of said pawl when the pawl is swung inwardly by gravity, whereby the driven member is prevented from rotation, said driving member having a cam adapted to cooperate with the extremity of said pawl after a predetermined angular movement of the driving member ahead of. the driven member whereby 'the pawl is raised from said detent and the springs are allowed torapidly bring the driven member into synchronism with the driving member;

6. An impulse coupling including a hollow cylindrical driven member, a driving member j ournaled therein, yielding means connecting said members for normal rotation in unison,

means o n the exterior of the driven member for locking the driven member from rotation, said driven member. having radial openings adjacent said lockinganeans, and means on the driving member cooperatin with the locking means through said openings to render the locking means inoperative after a predetermined relative rotation of the driving and driven members.

7. An impulse coupling including a hollow cylindrical driven member, adriving member journaled therein, yielding meansy connecting said members for normal rotation in unison, means on the exterior of the driven member for locking the driven member from rotation, said driven member having radial openings adjacent said locking means, and means on' the driving member normally spaced angularly from said locking means, adapted to cooperate with and move the locking means through said openings to inoperative position after a predetermined angular movement of the driving memberin advance of the driven member.

8. An impulse coupling including a hollow cylindrical driven`member having a hub extending into the interior thereof, a driving member journaled within the driven member, Y

enclosed thereby, and bearing` on said hub,

yielding means connecting said members for' normal rotation in unison, a fixed detent member, locking means for the driven mem ber on the exterior thereof adapted to cooperate with said detent member, said driven member having openings through which the locking means project when in locking position, and means o n the driving member adapted to engage'the inwardly projecting parts of the locking means and move them from locking position after a predetermined angular advance of the driving member withrespect to the drivenmember. v

9. An impulse coupling including a hollow driven member, adriving member journaled therein, yielding driving means connecting said members, a fixed detent member, a weighted pawl mounted eccentrically on said driven member movable radially inward to engage said detent and maintained out of such engagement by centrifugal force during rapid rotation of the driven member, means yieldably urging said pawl into engagement with said detent, said means being adjustable .to regulate the speed at which the' pawl will connecting said members for normal rotation in unison, means on the exterior of thedriven member for locking thedriven memmember journaled therein, yielding means ber :from rotation, said driven member having radial openings adjacent seid locking means, and means on the driving member eooperating vvith the locking means through said openings to render the locking means inoperative after e predetermined relative rotation of the driving and driven members, l

said yielding means and said looking means 'being formed to allow reversed assembly thereof whereby the coupling may "ne assembled for rotation in either direction. 4

In 'testimony whereof I have signed this specification. g f

WALTER J. SPENGLER. 

